My Take | Fair trial is still a better bet than exile
- Given the high rate of acquittal and often lenient sentences, protesters have better prospects through the courts than fleeing justice
Some young protesters have been trying to flee Hong Kong illegally because they believe they face long jail sentences. Their comrades have warned them about it. So-called experts and pundits claim the Hong Kong courts are being “weaponised” by the state.
Yet, the evidence points to the exact opposite. Protesters have a much better chance putting themselves at the mercy of the courts than fleeing the law.
If you jump bail or otherwise escape illegally, you become a fugitive for life. You are leaving friends and families behind, and face a life of uncertainty and hardship, not to mention risking your life.
You may be caught like those 12 now detained indefinitely in Shenzhen, or those five who fled to Taiwan, only to end up being detained there. Most of those who managed to arrive safely in Western countries report being isolated, penniless and hopeless.
It’s true that the maximum sentence for rioting is 10 years in prison. That’s exactly what protest groups have been warning and scaring each other with. Commentators warn the courts are being turned into an instrument of the state.
So-called experts and pundits claim the Hong Kong courts are being ‘weaponised’ by the state
Here’s a typical criticism from one of the city’s more prominent public intellectuals. “Anyone can be easily accused, criminalised and imputed,” wrote Simon Shen in The Diplomat.